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After three weeks, we have finally made our way through each position on the Green Bay Packers' roster and made our predictions for each position in turn. Here we will revisit the roster predictions in their entirety and discuss briefly the makeup of the roster.
OFFENSE (24)
Quarterbacks (3)
Aaron Rodgers
Scott Tolzien, Brett Hundley
Hundley earns the third spot over Matt Blanchard by virtue of his superior athletic ability. This was a unanimous choice, and probably one of the easiest on the roster.
Running Backs (5)
Eddie Lacy, John Kuhn
James Starks, Rajion Neal, Aaron Ripkowski
One of the most divisive topics on the roster was whether to keep five running backs and five wideouts or go with four and six. In the end, five of the nine writers went with the even split, and Neal beat out Crockett for our third-string running back prediction.
Wide Receivers (5)
Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb
Davante Adams, Jeff Janis, Ty Montgomery
As mentioned above, the decision to keep five or six wideouts was a tough one. Unfortunately, Jared Abbrederis didn't quite make the cut, as we expect the team to roll with rookie Ty Montgomery as a primary kick return option instead.
Tight Ends (3)
Richard Rodgers
Andrew Quarless, Justin Perillo
We are still waiting on any news of a suspension to result from Quarless' arrest earlier this summer. However, there's nothing yet as of publishing time, and we think that the returning Perillo gets a spot regardless. If Quarless is indeed suspended, rookie Kennard Backman should take his spot on the roster, at least early on.
Offensive Linemen (8)
David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga
Don Barclay, JC Tretter, Matt Rotheram
This was another position where there was little debate. Almost universally, APC expects Rotheram to claim the backup guard job ahead of Lane Taylor. The rest of the players on the roster are pretty well locked in.
DEFENSE (26)
Defensive Linemen (6)
Josh Boyd, B.J. Raji, Mike Daniels
Christian Ringo, Mike Pennel, Khyri Thornton*
Suspended: Datone Jones, Letroy Guion*
Picking backup defensive linemen for the Packers has been a tough challenge lately, but suspensions ended up doing most of the dirty work for us. With Jones and Guion out for at least week one, we think Pennel and Thornton will take their places, at least until they are eligible to return.
*Note: Guion had not been suspended as of our original projection. Thornton was added in his place as the player with the next-most votes on the line.
Outside Linebackers (5)
Julius Peppers, Nick Perry
Mike Neal, Jayrone Elliott, Adrian Hubbard
The Hubbard/Andy Mulumba debate was a close one, and Hubbard won out by a single vote. Elliott should provide some great special teams ability, an area where Hubbard will need to impress as well to make the team.
Inside Linebackers (5)
Clay Matthews, Sam Barrington
Carl Bradford, Jake Ryan, Nate Palmer
As mentioned earlier, we classified Matthews as an inside backer with full expectation of him shifting back outside on passing downs. His presence allows for the younger players (including two others who also shifted inside during last year's training camp) to contribute on special teams this year rather than having to be built up as starters.
Cornerbacks (6)
Sam Shields, Casey Hayward
Micah Hyde, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, Ladarius Gunter
A strong corps of corners is a must-have in the NFC North, and talent abounds in this secondary. With three rookies making the team, however, it will be critical for the three veterans ahead of them to remain healthy and contributing so there is not a significant drop-off.
Safeties (4)
Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Sean Richardson, Chris Banjo
Burnett was very good in run support last season when paired with Clinton-Dix, who improved steadily as the season went along. We expect big things from this group in 2015, and Sean Richardson will be an interesting tool for both Dom Capers and special teams coordinator Ron Zook. Banjo beats out Jean Fanor for the final spot based on his experience on the roster and on special teams.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode
No surprise here - while Cody Mandell may push Masthay in training camp, we don't expect the Ginger Wolverine to lose his job.
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There you have it, our full predictions on the 2015 roster. Below we have each writer's individual predictions for the roster - remember that these were submitted before Guion's suspension was levied, so that accounts for him showing up on the active roster.
Author | Tex | Jason | Josh | Aron | Brendan | Paul | Kris | Ryan | Matt |
QB | Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
Rodgers Tolzien, Hundley |
RB | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn, Ripkowski | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn, Ripkowski | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn, Ripkowski | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn, Ripkowski | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn | Lacy, Ripkowski, Neal, Starks | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn, Ripkowski | Lacy, Starks, Neal, Kuhn, Ripkowski | Lacy, Kuhn, Starks, Ripkowski |
WR | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Janis, Montgomery | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Janis, Montgomery | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Janis, Montgomery, Abbrederis | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Janis, Montgomery | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Abbrederis, Janis | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Abbrederis, Janis | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Janis, Montgomery | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Abbrederis, Janis | Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery, Abbrederis, Janis |
TE | Rodgers, Quarless, Backman | Quarless, Rodgers, Backman | Rodgers, Quarless, Perillo | Quarless, Rodgers, Perillo | Rodgers, Quarless, Perillo | Rodgers, Quarless, Perillo | Rodgers, Quarless, Perillo | Rodgers, Backman, Perillo | Quarless, Rodgers, Perillo |
OT | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay | Bakhtiari, Bulaga, Barclay |
G/C | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Taylor | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram | Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Tretter, Rotheram |
DL | Boyd, Raji, Daniels, Ringo, Pennel, Guion | Daniels, Raji, Boyd, Guion, Thornton, Ringo, Pennel | Raji, Boyd, Daniels, Guion, Thornton, Ringo | Daniels, Raji, Guion, Boyd, Pennel, Ringo | Raji, Daniels, Boyd, Guion, Ringo, Thornton | Daniels, Raji, Guion, Ringo, Hooks, Pennel | Daniels, Raji, Boyd, Guion, Pennel, Ringo | Raji, Guion, Daniels, Boyd, Ringo | Raji, Guion, Daniels, Boyd, Ringo, Hooks |
OLB | Peppers, Perry, Neal, Hubbard, Elliott | Peppers, Neal, Perry, Elliott | Peppers, Perry, Elliott, Neal, Mulumba | Matthews, Peppers, Elliott, Neal, Hubbard | Matthews, Peppers, Perry, Neal, Elliott, Hubbard | Peppers, Matthews, Elliott, Neal, Hubbard, Perry | Matthews, Peppers, Perry, Neal, Elliott, Hubbard | Peppers, Neal, Perry, Elliott, Mulumba | Peppers, Perry, Neal, Hubbard, Elliott, Mulumba |
ILB | Matthews, Barrington, Ryan, Bradford, Palmer | Matthews, Barrington, Ryan, Bradford, Palmer | Matthews, Barrington, Ryan, Bradford | Barrington, Ryan, Bradford, Palmer | Barrington, Ryan, Bradford | Barrington, Ryan, Bradford, Palmer | Barrington, Ryan, Bradford, Palmer | Matthews, Barrington, Ryan, Palmer, Dantzler | Matthews, Barrington, Bradford, Ryan |
CB | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Gunter | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Tay Glover-Wright | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Demetri Goodson | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Gunter | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Glover-Wright | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Gunter | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Goodson | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Gunter | Shields, Hayward, Hyde, Randall, Rollins, Goodson |
S | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo | Burnett, Clinton-Dix, Richardson, Banjo |
Spec | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode | Crosby, Masthay, Goode |